Casing-head for oil-wells.



D. L. MAXWELL. CASING HEAD' FOR 0m wins.

APPLICATION FlL'ED JULY 5,1966.

I Patented June 5,1917.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R N EY D. L. MAXWELL. CASING HEAD FOR OIL WEL LS. APPLICATION FILED'JULY 5.1916.

Patented June 5, 1917.

[SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES A'rroRN EV til) uni.

DILLARD L. MAXWELL, 0F WIRT, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-FOURTH T0 WILLIAM- SON J. MILBUIR'N, ONE-FOURTH TO LEONIDAS J. MILBUEN, AND ONE-FOURTH T0 THEOIDOFE STOGKDIELL, ALL OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA.

CASING-HEAD FOE. OIL-"WELLS.

ieeaeac.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1917.

Application filed July 5, 1916. serial No. 107,651.

acitizen of the United States, residing at Wirt, in the county of Carter and State of Oklahoma, have invented anew and useful CasingHead for Oil-Wells, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to casing heads for oil wells, and its object is to effect a saving in oil on withdrawing the tools from a flowing well, or in the case of a blow out.

In accordance with the present invention the casing head is provided with an automatically closing valve normally held in the open position against normal tendency to close with the means for holding it in the normally open position arranged to respond to the withdrawal of the tools from the well or the blowing out of the head of the casing through which the tool-carrying cable ordinarily passes.

The casing headis provided with a diverting neck which is asssumed to be properly coupled up to means for controlling the flow, while the automatic means is so arranged as to divert the flow of oil from the end of the casin through which the cable entends, and which end is supplied with a cover which must be removed in order to take out the tools, or which cover is sometimes blown out. lit is the removal of such cover, either intentionally or accidentally, thatbrings about the automatic closure of the passage leading toward such cover and the diverting of the oil to a controllable outlet, which may be,,as is customary, in the term of a suitable pipe connected up to the head and suppliedwith an ordinary cut ofi valve. C

The invention will be best understood from a consideration oii' he following detailed description, taken connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification with the further understanding that while the drawings show a ractical term of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified,- so long as such changes and modifications come within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the casing head as viewed from one end.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1 but drawn on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 4 is a section similar, but at right angles to the section of Fig. 2, omitting some of the parts shown-in Fig. 2 and showing some parts in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 4: but.

showing a difi'erent position of certain'of the parts. I

Fig. 6 is a section on the line6-f6 of Fig.

2, but omitting distant parts.z-*

Fig. 7 is a section on the line7f-f7""of Fig.

2, but omitting distant parts.

Fig. 8 is an inner face view-of one of the cap plates.

Fig. 9 is an end view of the diverting or .valve member contained in the casing head. b Fig. 10 is a plan view of the valve memin the drawings there is shown a casing 1 of generally cylindrical cross-section with a neck 2 .at one side, another neck 3 diametrically opposite theneck 2, and a third neck 4: at substantially right angles to the diameter representing the longitudinal common center line of the necks 2 and 3. The neck'2 is designed and properly arranged for application to the upper end of the well casing, as is customary. The neck 4 is designedto receive pipe connections for carrying away oil from the head, said pipe connections being customarily provided with a cut ofi valve, which latter, however, as Well as the pipe connections, are not shown in the drawings,

since they form no part of the present inven-' each of whichhas an artially extended spindle 7:1The valve 5 has a central cut out 9 extending circumferentially thpough the pe ripheral wall of the valve throughout the greater portion of the circumference, but

leaving a wall '10 extending the full length of the body of the valve and sufficient to cover that end of the neck 3 where joining the body 1 of the casing. The opposite ends of the body 1 of the casing are closed by heads 11 held in placcby screws 12 and car- 'rying central bearing members 13 for the spindles 7, which latter extend through the heads to the exteriorthereof and are there axially and cross bored, as shown at14= and ,15, respectively, for the application of a suitable tool or tools, whereby the valve 5 \inay be turned from the exterior of the easing. Where thewall of the valve stopsat the cutout 9, it is provided with a cable,- receivingnotch 16. I

' That end ofthe neck 3 remote fronithc body of the casing 1 has a cover plate 17 "zfitted to it, and this cover plate carries a 45 the levers 26 in the installed position of the casinghead, are latch bolts 29 mounted in Extending through the tube 19, and through gland 18in turn carrying a guide tube 19 extending into the neck through the plate 17. The cap plate 17 also carries a tubular sleeve 20 exterior to and concentric with the I tube 19 and also located within the M0113,

the body of the casing, as well as through the valve 5, and also through the neck 2', is a 1 tool carrying cable or rope 21 surrounded by another tube 22 held to the cable by a clamp 23 i and set screw 24. I I Extending radially inwardlyfrom the inner Walls the sleeve 20 are ears 25 each having pivoted thereto a lever 26 provided I withna shorter end 27 extending beyond the ward the extremity of said ends, as shown at the casing.

end of the sleeve 20 toward the body 1 of The ends 27 are each rounded on whatmay be termed the inner edge to- ,28, andtheseends are at a slight angleto the respective levers 26, and when'the parts "are in position the ends 27 diverge toward the neck 2. At the other or upper ends of and slidable through the passages 30 ra- ,dially' positioned in a drop flange 31 on the lower side ot'thehead 17. In matching relation to the passages 30' are sockets 32 in 1 the inner wall of the neck 3' nearits upper extremity. The latch bolts 29 serve as means for locking the head 17 in place and in closing relation to the upper end of the neck 3. i i

Extending in diametrically opposite directions throughthe neck 3 where joining the body of the casing .1 are slid-able latch i members 33 each in the form of a bar havng one end entering the neck and there upturned, as shown at 34, in the path of the bent lower end of a respective one of the levers 26. A sprlng 35 bears at one end against, the inner wall of the neck 3 and at the other end against the upturned extrem ity34 of the latch rod or bar, 33'. The bar rests upon and mores, lengthwise, of the casing 1 exterior thereto and between the guideears 36 at the correspondingends of 'thecasing 1.' Each head 11' isformedwith I I a slot 37 matching the space between the guide ears 36, so that the bar 33 may slide T lengthwise without turning. That end of" eachbar 33 remotefrom the upturned end 34 is'returned upon itself, as shown at38,

to provide a latch finger 39 extending through a passage 40 in the corresponding head 11 into the interior ofthe casing '1. The valve 5 is fof less length thanthe interior of the'casing 1, sothat at each end of the valve between the heads 6 thereof and 1 the heads 11 chambers 41 I a Mounted on either or each of the heads 11 at'the inner facethereof is a spring 42, preferably though'not necessarily a leaf spring.

ofithe casing 1 are spaces or" Formed on eitheror each head 6 is a lug 43 f in radial relation thereto and terminating at the end toward the axis ofthe valve in a toe 44. The radial lug is so arranged that when the valve is turned inthe appropriate bend the latter, as best shownin dotted lines in Fig; '4, thus putting the spring under tendirection it willengage the spring 42 and sion in a manner to have a normal tendency to rotate the valve toward its first position, which position is that shown [in Fig. 5, p

where the wall 10 is in closing relation to the neck 3, but the cut-rout 9 then maintains the necks 2 and l in'constant communication.

When the valve 5 is turned into a position putting the spring 42under tension, the cutout 9 then places all three necks'2, 3 and 4 incommunication, so that the rope or cable 21 may'traverse thene'cks 2 and 3' without interference from the valve. The fingers 39 i of the latch bars 33 are normally in the path of the lugs 43 and the bars 33 may be tempo a y ward the open position to permit the passage 7 of the lugs 43 by the fingers 39, and when rarily spread when the valve is turned tovalve is locked open by the fingers 39 and the drilling of the well proceeds in the usual manner, the valve offering no impediment to the movements of the line. In order to introducethe tools, the head 17 already in surrounding relation to .the rope 21 andits' protecting tube 22, is applied to the upper end of the neck 3 andlocked thereto'by the, latch bolts 29, the valve 5 having been previously locked in the open position. i

, Assuming that oil is flowing from thewell 1 into the path of the 1,22e,eee

under pressure, as by way of the neck a, and that it is desired to remove the tools, all that is necessary is to lift the tools by the rope 21 until the rope clamp fastening the rope to the tools or some other part of sufficient size comes into engagement with the curved extremities 28 of the bent ends 27 of the levers 26. The continued upward movement of the rope 21 causes a spreading of the ends 27 and a corresponding outward movement of the bars 33. lhe spreading of the ends 27' of the levers 26 results in withdrawing the latch bolt 29 from the sockets 32, whereupon the cover 17 is released and rises with the rope .and parts carried thereby, the sleeve 20 and levers 26 participating in such movement, but the ends 34: of the bars 33 having been pressed outwardly by the ends 27 of the levers 26, do not interfere with the. withdrawal of the tool. The valve 5 having been released by the latch fingers 29 is rotated by the straightening out of the springs 42 into the position shown "in Fig. 5.,thus closing-the neck 3 and preventing any waste of oil therethrough, the oil flowing out through the neck at which remains in communication with the neck 2 and therefore with the well casing.

Consequently the casing head by the automatic closure of communication between the well casing and the neck through which the tools must be extracted, serves as an oil saver, for otherwise, especially where the oil is issuing un der considerable pressure, there is large waste of oil and it is sometimes dangerous to attempt to shut off the flow of oil by trying to close the neck 3.

Sometimes the pressure becomes so great as to blow the head 17 0d from the neck 3.- In such cases the ends 27 of the levers 26 acting upon the rods 33 cause them to move outwardly, thus unlatching the valve and permitting it to rotate to the closed position, the notch 16 then partially encircling the rope or cable or the protecting tube thereof.

This closes communication between the well casing and the neck 3, so that even in the case of a blow out there is no wastage 'of oil and no danger to the workman who would otherwise be compelled to reach the well to close the neck 3. Such attempts in case of blow outs often result in serious injury and even death to the workman.

The device of the present invention is en-' tirely automatic in its action so far as the closing of the neck 3 or the diversion of the oil therefrom is concerned, and this closing occurs whether it be required because of an accident or in the event of withdrawing the tools, and in either case no material waste of oil occurs.

In order to insure a snug yet free fit of the valve in the body of the casing, the

valve may be slightly tapered and the seat for the valve in the casing may be correspondingly tapered.

Since the action of the casing head in- .closing the well against wasteful escape of oil is entirely automatic, not only is waste prevented, but danger from fire or explosions is avoided. Still more important is the fact that the automatic action of the casing head permits the drillers and their assistants to leave the well and seek places of safety before withdrawing the tools, and to there remain until the automatic oil sav ing features of the casing have closed the well and eliminated danger.

What is claimed is 1. A casing head for o1l wells having a.

2. A casing headfor oil wells having a passage therethrough for the drilling tools and cable, means for closing said passage provided with means imparting to the dos ing closed or cut-01f position, and means for holding the cut-off means against its normal tendency and for releasing it to move under its normal tendency to the closed or cut-off position, said releasing means being located in the path of the drilling tool and constructed to respond to forces exerted on the releasing means by the withdrawal of the drilling tools from the casing head, whereby the cut-off means are automatically released to move to the cut-off position as a tool is lifted from the casing head.

3. A. casing head for oil wells provided with means for the passage of oil well tools and an operating cable .therethrough, a cut 0% valve in the casing provided with means for automatically moving it to the cut-off position, and latch means for holding the valve in the open position in opposition to the normal tendency of the automatic means.

4. A casing head for oil wells comprising a casing with oppositely disposed necks for connecting the casing to a well tubing and for the entrance into the casing of an operating cable and tools, a closing head for the second-named neck, a rockable valve in the casing movable-to close and open the secondnamed neck, automatic means for moving the valve to the closed position and yieldable to forces tending to move the valve to the open position, latch means for holding the valve in the open position against the normal tendency of the automatic means, and

means a normal tendency toward the" I, .entrance of tools and operating'cable intolatch means for holding the closing head for the casing and'into the Well tubing, a rockable valve in the casing having a passage therethrough for the tools and cable and movable into and outof closing relation to the second-named neck, a closure for the '15 second-named neck, latch means for holding A the closure to the second-named neck, auto matic means for moving the valve to the closedr-positiomand yieldable to forces tend ping to open the valve, and latchmeans in I a i so coactiveflrelation to the first-named latch means for, holding the valve in the open position against its normal tendency to close under the action of the automatic means.

H 6. A casinghead for wells having oppositely directed necks for attachment to the ,WBll casing and the introduction of tools and cable] into the well through'the head with the ne'ck for-the introduction of the tools provided. with a closure, latch bolts and operating levers. therefor carried by the closure and extending into the neck and located in the pathof withdrawal of the tools from the" neck, the operating means being shaped to-be moved on the withdrawal of the tools to'release ,the'head, a rockable valve in the casing with its axis'of rocking perpendicular to the ,longitudinal center line of the'n'ecks with said valve havingan opening for the tools and "tooloperating cable, and with parts for closing the second-named neck, automati'c'means for moving the valve to the closed. position and yieldable to forces tending to open the valve, and a latch means for holding the valve in the open position having parts in thepath of the latch means i for the head of the first-named neck for movement of the second named latch means to the release position on movement of the first named latch means to the release posi tion.

7. A casing head forwells, having oppo sitely directed necks for attachment to the well casing and the introduction of tools and vcable into the well through the head with the neck for the introduction of the tools provided with a closure, latch bolts and operating levers therefor carriedby the closure and extending into the neck and located inothe path of withdrawal of the tools from the neck, the operating means being 1 shaped to be moved on thevwithdrawal of the tools to release the head, a rockable valve in the casing with its faxis of rocking per- 7 ,pendicu'lar to the longitudinal center line to of the neckswithsaid valve having an opening for thetools and tool operating cable and with parts for closing the second-named neck, automatic means for movingthe valve to the closed position and yieldable to forces 1 I I tending to open the valve, and a latch means for holding the valve in the open position having parts in thepath ofthe latch means for the head of the first -named neck for movement of thesecond-named latch, means to the release'position on movement of the" first-named latch means to the release posi'-' tion, the second-named latch meansbeingalso located in the path of the first-named latch means for the action of the secondnamed latch means by the first-named latch meanson the removal of'the head fromthe neck to which it is a'pplied.

' 8 A casinghead for wells, comprisinga casing body with alined necks on, opposite sides thereoflone of the necks being adapted tobe applied to a well casing and the other 1 neck being adaptedto permit the introduction of the well tools and cable through the casing into thelwell, a c'ap for the secondnamed neck, latch bolts on the cap for at taching thelatterto the neck, operating levers for the latch bolts having; terminal members withinthe neck in divergent relation one toward the other in a direction to ward the well tubeand located in the path: of parts carried b the cable, other latch memberscarried by the casing head and I having means imparting to, them a normal tendency toward each other, and movable in opposite directions in opposition to the normal tendency, said secondnamed latch memhere being in the path of movement of the first-named latch members for actuation thereby, a rockable valvein the casing havinga passage through it for the cable" and well tools and provided with a part movable into closing relation to the second-named neck, spring means tending to move the valve to the closed position with respect to the secondnamed neck and :yieldalole to forces tending to rock the valve toward the open position, and means on the valve for engaging the spring means top ll the latter under tension, the last-named means being in the path of the second-named latch means for holding thevalve inthe open position.

Intestimony, that I claim the foregoing asmy own, have hereto afiixed my signa-z turein the presence of two witnesses. I

p I :DILLARD L. MAX LL.)

Witnesses i W. E'MAXWELL,

I, Mrs. STELLA THOMAS; 

